Selective signal system.



S S I L B P B.

SELEOTIVE SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 12, 1906.

lnvenKor ElmerF-TBliss.

Abby.

y Wf Winessesz Be it known that I, ELMER F. Buss, a citi-.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I I

ELM R i BLISS, OFSOHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SELECTIVE SIGNAL SYSTEM.

T at whom, it may concern:

zen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of- New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Selective Signal Systems,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to signaling systems of the type employing selective devices at the several stations with means controllable from a distance for moving the devices at all the stations simultaneously step by step. The usual controlling means employed in such systems omprisesan electromagnet arranged to actuate a pawl and ratchet. When a large number of stations are, employed, it is necessary with the usual arrangement to provide. the selective devices with a large num- Y ber of steps, so that the magnets must be actuated a large number of times in order to set the devices at the stations corresponding to the larger numbers.

, The object of my invention to reduce the number of operations required in such a system; and one of its features consists in providing a pluralityof selective devices at each station jointly controlling the signal device,

, with means for moving the selective devices at each station independently of each other.

For instance, by employing two selective devices at each station only four positions are required for each devlce in order to control twenty-five stations.

My invention further consists in so arranging the operating-magnets for the selective at'only a single conductor is reconductor and arranging them to respond to currents of difierent character.

Myinvention will best be'understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a signal system arran ed in accordance with my invention, and ig. 2 shows. a plan view of the selective devices. I 1

In Fig. 1 I have shown only one station; but it will be understood that as many stations as desired'may be employed each arranged and connected in precisely the same manner as shown for the single station.

A and A represent the two selective de- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed 1,12. 1906. Serial No. 326,840.

- Patented Apri12 ,190 7.

vices, which are shown as two counterweighted sectors pivoted side by side and provided, respectively, with notches a and a, which may be brought into line by the proper movement of the devices. These sectors are actuated by the vertically-movable rods B and B, respectively, which are provided with ratchet-teeth and are raised by the spring-actuated pawls c and 0, controlled by the magnets C and C, respectively. The

armatures of these two magnets are polarized, Y

and the magnets are so connected to the same conductor that their armatures respond to currentsin that conductor of opposite polarity. Thus by sending a number of impulses of one polarity over the conductor the magnet C may be actuated that number of times, so as to raise the rod B a corresponding number of teeth'without affecting the magnet G. Then by reversing thepolarity of current in the conductor the magnet C may be actuated without disturbing the ma net C.

D represents a pivoted member, which is adapted to lock the signal-arm E in clear po sition and which is normally held in the position shownby the sectors A and A. The

. back end of the member D is arranged to enter the notches a and a in the sectors when. both notches are brought into line with it, but is provided with a spring d, which holds it in the position shown, even when both notches are brought into line with it, until the ma net F is actuated .to overpower the spring When this occurs, the member I) is moved so as to enter the notches, so as to release the signal E, allowing it to go to stop position, by means of its counterweight. The magnet F may be a neutral magnet.

G and G represent two other neutral magnets, the armatures g and. g of which nor- -mally remain in the position shown, serving to latch the rods B and B in their raised positions; but when the magnets G and G are energized these armatures, which are 'connected by a link to the pawls c and 0, will.

move out of engagement withthe rods B and B, at the-same time moving the pawls c and c out of engagement, so that i the rods are free to fall to their lowest positions, thereby resetting the devices.

All the magnets are connected'in a single conductor,- which extends to the sending-star tion, at which is a source of current H and re versing-switch I, by means of which a current of either polarity may be sent over the conductor.

J represents a resistance in series with the battery H, variable portions of which may be short-circuited by the switch L represents an ammeter inserted in the the notches a and a are so arranged on the sector that a movement of the two sectors corresponding to two and three teeth, respec tively, on the actuating-rods will bring the notches opposite the signal-controlling member D. Consequently if the switch I is moved twice in one direction, so as to send twocurrent impulses of one polarity over the conductor, the magnet C will raise rod B two teeth, bringing notch a opposite member D.

This current is of the Wrong polarity for ac-- tuating magnet C, and the magnets C and C are arranged to respond to a currentfor instance, half an amperesmaller than is required to actuate magnets F, G, or G. Consequently magnet C alone will be actuated. Then by moving switch I three times in the opposite direction magnet C will be actuated so as to raise rod B three teeth and bring notch a opposite the member D. Now if the current of a greater amountfor instance, one amperebe sent over the conductor, which may be done by first moving switch K so as to short-circuit a portion of resistance J and then moving switch I in either direction, magnet F will be actuated so as to move member D-into the notches a and (1, thereby releasing the signal E. The signal E having been set, switch K is now moved to short-circuit all of resistance J so that when switch I is again closed a still greater currentfor instance, of two amperes-is sent over the conductor. This current is of sufiicient amount to actuate the magnets G and G, which'release the rods, thereby resetting the selective devices at all the stations.

I do not desire to limit myself to the particular construction and arrangement of parts here shown, but aim in the appended claims to cover all modifications which are within the scope of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the vUnited States, is-

1. In a signal system, a plurality of stations, a plurality of selective devices at each station, means controllable from a distance for moving the several devices at each statio n step by step independently of each other, and a signal device at each station controlled by the joint action of the selective devices at that station.

a 7 2. In a signal system, a plurality of stations, a plurality of selective devices at each station, a conductor extending through said stations, a plurality of magnet-windings at each station in circuit with said conductor and arranged to respond to currents of different character, means controlled by each magnet for moving one of said devices step by step, and a signal device at each station controlled by the j oint action of the selective devices at that station.

3. In a signalsystem, a plurality of stations, a plurality of selective devices at each station, a plurality of electromagnets at each station, means controlled by each magnet for moving one of said devices step by step, a signal device at each station controlled by the joint action of the selective devices at that station, and means at a distant point for controlling the magnets at all the stations.

4;. In a signal system, aplurality of selective devices, a plurality of electromagnets responsive to currents of different character, means controlled by each magnet for moving one of said devices step by step, asignal device controlled by the joint action' of said selective devices, a conductor connected to said magnets, and means at a distant point for supplying currents of different character to said conductor to operate said magnets selectively.

5. In a signal system, two selective devices, a conductor, two polarized magnets connected to said conductor and arranged to respond to currents of opposite polarity therein, means at a distant point for supply- 'ing current of either polarity to said conductor, means controlled by each magnet for moving one of said devices step by step, and a signal device controlled by the joint action of the selective devices.

6. In a signal system, a plurality of selective devices, means controllable from a distance for moving said devices independently ste) by step, a movable .member normally lOClUiCl in one position and arranged to be unlocked by the joint action of said devices, and a signal controlled by said member.

. 7. In a signal system, a plurality of selective devices a plurality of magnets responsive to curr ents of different character, means controlled by each magnet for moving one of said devices step by step, a movable member normally locked in one position and arranged to be unlocked by the joint action of said se-- lectivedevices, a signal controlled by said member, a conductor connected to said magnets and extending to a distant point, and

means at the distant point for supplying currents of different character to said conductor to operate said magnets selectively.

8. In a signal system, a plurality of selective devices, means controllable from a distance for moving said devices independently step by step, a movable member normally loc ed in one positionand arranged to be unlocked by the joint action of said devices, an electromagnet for moving said member when unlocked, and a signal controlled by said member. 5' I 9. In a signal system, a plurality of selective devices, a plurality of magnets responsive to currents of different character, means controlled by each magnet for'moving one of said devices step by step, a movable member normally locked in one position and arranged to be unlocked by the joint action of said selective devices, a magnet for moving said member when unlocked arranged to respond to current of a different character from the currents to which the first-mentioned magnets respond, ,a signal controlled by said member, a conductor connected to all of said magnets and extending to a distant point, and means at the distant point for supplying currents of different character for selectively operating said magnets.

10. In a signal system, two selective devices, a conductor, two polarized vmagnets connected to said conductor and'arranged to respond to currents of opposite polarity therein, means controlled by said magnets for moving said devices respectively step by step, a movable member normally locked in one position and arranged to be unlocked by the joint action of:..said devices, a .magnet for moving said member when 'unlocked' connected to said conductor and arranged to repond only to a current stronger than that to which the polarized magnets respond, a signal controlled by said member, and means at a distant point for supplying currents of oppo-. site polarity and of. different strengths to said conductor.

11. In a signal s stem, a plurality of stations, a plurality 0 selective devices at each station, means controllable from a distance for moving the several devices at each sta-' tion step by step independently of each other, a signal device at each station controlled by the joint action of theselective devices at that' station, and means controllable from a distance forresetting said selective devices.

12. In a signal system", a plurality of select ive devices, a plurality of electromagnets responsive to currents of different character, means controlledby each magnet for moving one of said devices ste by step, a signal device controlled by the oint action of said selective devices, a conductor connected to said magnets, means at a distant point for supplying currents of difierent character to said conductor to operate said magnets selectively, and electromagnetic means for resetting the selective devices connected to said conductor and arranged to respond to a current of difierentcharacter from that to which the first-mentioned magnets respond.

13. In a signal system, two selective devices, a conductor, two polarized magnets connected to said conductorand arranged to respond to currents of opposite polarity therein, means at a distant point for supplying current of either polarity to said conduc tor, means controlled by each magnet for moving one of said devices step by step, a signal device controlled by the joint action of the selective devices, and electromagnetic means for resetting the selective devices connected to said conductor and arranged to respond enly to a current of greater strength t an that to which the polarized magnets respond.

14. In a signal system, a signal, a plurality of .selective devices jointly controlling said signal, a plurality of magnets controlling said devices and signal, a single conductor connected to all of said magnets, and means at a distant point for supplying currents of opposite polarity to said conductor.

15. Ina signal system, a signal, a lurality of selectivedevices jointly controlling said 'signal, a plurality of magnets controlling said devices and signal, a single conductor connected to all of said magnets, and means at a distant point for supplying currents of 'diflerent strengths to said conductor. 

